May 23:``On 15th April 2022, unknown terrorists had fired upon one Manzoor Ahmad Bangroo, sarpanch of Goshbugh B, at Chanderhama orchards in Wussan area of Palhallan, Pattan. Immediately after the attack searches were launched in the area. Regarding the incident, a case FIR number 117/2022 under relevant sections of law was registered in PS Pattan and investigation was vigorously taken up.
The investigation on the basis of various techint and humint leads, led to the apprehension of three suspects by a joint team of Baramulla Police and Army’s 29RR. They have been identified as namely Noor Mohammad Yatoo son of Gh Hassan Yatoo, Mohd Rafiq Parray son of Mohd Akbar Parray and Ashiq Hussain Parray son of Ab Rahman Parray, all residents of Goshbugh, Pattan.
During the course of investigation, the suspects revealed of a deeper conspiracy involving an older sleeper cell of LeT, which was responsible for the grenade attack in Palhallan highway last year. The accused arrested in that case especially the prime conspirators, Mohd Afzal of Barthipora, Naidkhai, Bandipora and Mehrajuddin Dar of Gund Jehangir, Hajin, Bandipora had already tasked multiple blindsided sleeper cells to identify and attack specific targets to spread terror and chaos. Both these have been found involved in various such web of modules and are already under arrest.
This particular module had been tasked to identify and attack PRIs and other civilians and soft targets for which pistols and ammunition had been provided to them.
The three arrested hybrid terrorists divulged the plot which was directed by LeT terrorists Yusuf Kantru and Hilal Sheikh (both killed at Malwah operation) and executed by recently infiltrated terrorists Gulzar Ganaie (killed in an encounter at Bandipora) and Umar Lone of Wussan (still active and at large). The investigations further led to the recoveries of arms and ammunition and to a larger web of links between various tanzeems and organisations on which investigation is going on. The recovered arms and ammunitions include 03 Chinese pistols, 03 pistol magazines, 02 grenades & 32 pistol rounds.
The successful apprehension of the three terrorists and the recovery of the arms and ammunitions has solved another sensational case in Baramulla regarding killing of sarpanch besides, foiled major terror plots planned in future in the general area. Interrogation of the apprehended individuals is likely to provide further inputs which will be utilized for fruitful counter terrorism operations.```